After losing all three Test
matches on Australia's
visit to Sri Lanka in
March 2003, Sri Lanka made
a winter visit for a two-Test series in the tropical north of Australia.

World record-holder Muttiah Muralitharan pulled out of his second
tour of Australia
after Australian Prime Minister John Howard's remarks made at a function that
he was 'a chucker'.Nevertheless
Murali travelled to Sydney
where, with Australian leg-spinner Shane Warne, he took part in promotional
events to celebrate their bowling feats.

Australia easily beat Sri Lanka in the first Test
match.Although leg-spinner Shane
Warne created history by equalling the then world record of 527 Test wickets
held by Muralitharan, the match finished in a draw with Australia
falling two wickets short of victory.

Ashantha de Mel (new Chairman of Selectors, appointed May 2004), Aravinda de Silva, Lalith Kaluperuma (the previous Chairman of Selectors), Jayantha Paranathala and Roger
Wijesuriya.

Selection

Previously, the selectors had appointed their captain for a
single series but they asked Marvan Atapattu to lead on the tour to Australia as well as a forthcoming Asia Cup
tournament in July and a visit by South Africa in August 2004 for
two Test matches.

Tour party announced4 June 2004.

De Mel said: "We thought of experience for the
two Tests rather than try to experiment with youngsters.”

Not selected :Two contracted players Kumar Dharmasena and
Hashan Tillekeratne were not selected

Withdrawal On 15
June Muralitharan handed in a letter to Sri Lankan Cricket saying he would
not tour. The selectors felt that. with two other spinners in the team, there
was no need for a replacement.

Time between selection and departure from Sri Lanka

15 days

(4 June to 19 June)

Travel

ColomboQ

The team flew out of Colombo on the morning of Saturday 19 June 2004, and had
four days of acclimatisation in Darwin.